"The Fall of a Hero"

Part 1

As I slowly regained consciousness, I was met with the faint beeping of machines and the stench of antiseptic. I tried to move, but a searing pain shot through my body, forcing me to freeze. My mind was foggy, and my memories were hazy. I vaguely recalled being on an expedition outside the walls with my squad, led by my beloved boyfriend, Eren. We were ambushed by Titans, and...and...I couldn't remember much after that. My gaze drifted to the side, where Eren's anxious face came into view. His eyes, usually filled with determination and fire, now seemed sunken and worried. He grasped my hand tightly, his grip warm and reassuring. I tried to speak, but a tube protruded from my mouth, obstructing my words. A series of monitors beeped and whirred around me, and I saw that I had an endotracheal tube deep in my throat, connected to a ventilator. I was paralyzed from the chest down, unable to move my limbs. Panic set in as I realized the extent of my injuries. Eren's eyes locked onto mine, and he spoke softly, "Hang in there, I know you're awake. Don't try to talk, you're going to be okay." His words were laced with a reassurance he didn't truly feel. I tried to recall the events leading to my current state. The expedition, the Titans, the ambush...it all came flooding back. I remembered the sound of shattering bone and the feeling of weightlessness as I fell. My C1 and C2 spinal cord had snapped in half, leaving me with severe internal decapitation. As the memories returned, so did the pain. Not just physical, but emotional. I was trapped, reliant on machines to keep me alive. My diaphragm was weak, and any slight movement could cause it to fail, leaving me unable to breathe. The medical staff bustled around me, adjusting the ventilator and monitoring my vitals. Eren didn't leave my side, his grip on my hand unyielding. I was grateful for his presence, but a part of me felt guilty for being a burden. My heart had stopped multiple times during the journey to the medical infirmary, and I knew I was lucky to be alive. The doctor's voice was distant, discussing my condition with the nurses and Eren. I caught snippets of their conversation – "hypersensitive to temperature changes," "spinal cord damage," and "critical condition." The beeping machines and Eren's worried expression created a sense of unease. I was a soldier, a member of the Hange Squad, and I had never felt so vulnerable. The fear of being trapped in this state forever crept into my mind, threatening to consume me. As I lay there, I knew I had to hold on, for Eren's sake and for my own. I had to find a way to overcome this, to recover and return to my squad. The thought gave me a glimmer of hope, and I focused on it, willing myself to keep fighting. For now, I was at the mercy of the medical team and the machines keeping me alive. Eren's hand remained clasped in mine, a reminder that I wasn't alone. I could only hope that my body would heal, and I would regain control over my life.